ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.VOLUNTEER TO HELP:Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

DONATE: Has my blog helped in any way? Helped find something•brought more EASE? More exposure or business? I welcome you to show YOUR appreciation for my efforts! ANY size DONATION is APPRECIATED! (see below other ways to show your appreciation)The easiest way is with PAYPAL - Attn: LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com (you do NOT need to have a PayPal account to do this - just a credit or debit card)

ADD INFORMATION: Do YOU have/know of a Business•Event•News•Place•Things 4 Sale•Rent to add? Email:LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

OTHER WAYS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS BLOG

• APPLE LAPTOP - Do you have a Laptop you're not using? Mine recently broke so I'm using a lender. Must be new enough to run current Skypes & have an SDCard slot.
• Amazon.com or GoDaddy.com Credit•Gift Certificate (attn: SarongGoddess@gmail.com)
• Something else to share?? A gift certificate or invite for your business? I'm open!!
(at times I'll add other things here that I'm seeking)

(NaturalNews) Over 6,000 years have passed since the Egyptians referred to the common houseplant Aloe vera
as the "plant of immortality," due to its myriad of uses for everything
from acne to baldness, insomnia, digestive upsets, sepsis and cancer.

Aloe
vera plants produce a variety of substances with antibacterial,
anti-fungal, anti-viral and antioxidant properties; earning it a spot in
the pantheon of superfoods and super herbs alongside companions such as
echinacea, garlic, turmeric and ginger. If you intend to take Aloe vera
orally, always choose an organic product or grow your own.

The
plant provides high amounts of vitamins and minerals. Regular
consumption of Aloe vera juice supplies the eight essential amino acids
not made by the body plus a wide range of enzymes.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

If you're living in Costa Rica you've
probably experienced electrical things don't seem to last as long as
they "say" or you'd think they would si? I feel part of it could be a combo of reasons - #1 being VERY few buildings in Costa Rica are grounded, plus have you ever sat there and watched
you ceiling lights? Notice anything?? MANY places I've been they
flicker/dim a bit on and off. This is often caused by old or faulty wiring (which can cost you a LOT of wasted $$$/¢¢¢ each month [case in point my old place where I even replaced ALL the lightbulbs in a 6,000 square foot/6 bedroom home with those new dangerous ones, plus I bought a new Energy Conscious Fridge and I put a timer on my HUGE hot water tank plus I asked guests to give me 1 hour notice before they wanted to take a shower - all #1 so I could show my love for Mother Nature - and save a few dollars - which it barely made a dent - well, the bill after turning the hot water tank off went down $50/month!!]) - or just the inconsistent flow of electricity in Costa Rica.

Some people (myself included) feel "they"
might send inferior products to Costa Rica (why you might ask? How
many Tico's have you noticed to raise hell when something doesn't work
[like you do with many Americans]. I REALLY "Got" this when I was
helping some American's look for appliances and I couldn't find ANY of
the model numbers they were asking for. With LOTS of research, I find
most of the models in Costa Rica were the same - just a different
number. With more research I found MANY of the products here had less
than positive reviews. Hmmmm - 1+1=__????).

I'm sharing the hints in this article in hopes of helping YOUR appliances last longer!!!

ANOTHER HINT:Looking to buy some appliances? Thinking about buying something new?

SERIOUSLY
consider this point - what appliance, car, lightbulb - heck - any
merchandise - have you found these days that is built as well as those
from ages ago?? REALLY consider buying something used - even older (even if it's not so pretty) - especially if it has a good history of being more solidly built!!!

WHERE TO FIND USED ITEMS:

Just a couple hints for now on the best places I've found for finding used items (which are EASY to find these days since people seem to be leaving in droves [hence people may be quite workable so don't be afraid to ask them for something lower]) but don't limit to seeing what others are offering - create your OWN ad ASKING for what you're seeking (and the MORE details YOU can give [especially where you're located or willing to go to get it] - the less wasted time you'll get):

Whether you bought your home appliance at a local outlet or a
big-box retailer, chances are you purchased it with the intent it would
last a long time. But just as cars need the occasional oil change and
tune up to extend their mileage, your home appliances need some added
attention now and again too. Well-maintained appliances use less energy,
require fewer repairs, and last longer. And all of these benefits add
up to more savings in your pocket. My experience in the appliance
industry has taught me you can't stop time, but there are a few things
you can do to extend the lifespan of your appliances and keep them
running well beyond their warranties.

Below I've outlined my tips to extend the lifespan of the most commonly used home appliances:

REFRIGERATOR

The refrigerator's gaskets (the plastic strip that
forms a seal between the fridge and doors) help keep cool air inside the
fridge, conserving energy. To help the gaskets stay elastic and form a
better seal, periodically wipe them clean, removing all residue and coat
them with a thin film of Vaseline. (My FABULOUS Appliance Repair person Melvin Valverde saved me a year before I HAD to buy a new fridge with the above Vaseline trick!!)LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/02/appliance-repair-melvin-valverde.html

Dirty or dusty refrigerator coils can restrict airflow through the
appliance, causing it to overheat and potentially break down. Remove
your fridge's kick plate (the front panel near the floor) or reach
around the back of the fridge and clean the coils with a handheld
vacuum.

DISHWASHER

Like the refrigerator, a faulty gasket can prevent your
dishwasher from operating correctly and efficiently. Dirt, cracks, or
other buildup on the gasket can cause your dishwasher to leak. I
recommend regularly cleaning it with soap and water to keep a watertight
seal.

When loading your dishwasher, be careful to not damage the racks. The
racks are typically coated with a vinyl material that can be damaged
from rough use. Dishwasher racks are typically very expensive and often
rival the cost of a new appliance, so keeping them in good shape can
prevent another unwanted bill.

WASHING MACHINE

The #1 useful tip for your washing machine is ...
Don't overload the washing machine! Yes, it really can be that simple.
Clothes need to be able to move freely during a wash cycle. If the
machine is jammed full of clothes, it will need more energy to move them
around. This means added strain on the washer's motor, transmission,
belts, and other parts.

That being said, it's also very important to not under-load the
machine. Small loads can lead to off-balance cycles, which put a strain
on the drive components. Plus, small loads waste water and energy, since
there is very little difference in the amount of energy and water used
for a full load and small load.

CLOTHES DRYER

Like the washing machine, it's important to not
overload the clothes dryer. A large load places increased strain on the
appliance as it struggles to effectively dry the clothing. Also be aware
of your dry time. 35 minutes is typically plenty of time to
dry your clothes (in a well functioning dryer), compared to the 60 minutes dryers are usually set for.
Reducing dry time saves energy and decreases the strain put on your
dryer, as well as your clothes. If your dryer has an auto-dry setting,
use it. Auto-dry heats only as much air as necessary and will reduce
energy use.

It's also important to regularly monitor the dryer's external vent
cap -- located outside your home -- for a buildup of lint and dust.
Debris prevents the cap from operating normally and reduces airflow,
potentially causing premature failure of the motor and thermostats.
Plus, it's a potential fire hazard.

(Marvin suggests cleaning out the drum++ [taking it apart and all] at least once a year - ESPECIALLY on older machines. I know mine made a BIG difference in the performance when I did this!)

Finally, for all major appliances, it's advisable to fix minor
problems before they become a bigger issue and affect other components.
Unusual leaks and noises should be investigated as they occur to help
minimize the cost of maintaining your appliances and prolong their
lifespan.

Need an APPLIANCE REPAIR person in Costa Rica? Check out this site - and tell them Vicki from the blog/website sent you!!!

I think many people that have driven outside of Costa Rica (especially in countries where driving is more civilized) will agree that Costa Rica is not one of the easiest/best countries to drive in (especially with all the motorcyclists that seem to have a Death Wish!!).

I think one point that REALLY contributes to that is there is NO formal Drivers Training required (sadly, that's been one of the program's that's been cut in U.S. schools as well [it's MUCH more important to learn history and things right?? - NOT!!!]) and many people are being taught by people (usually their parents I'm sure) that never had education on how to drive properly either.

Hence I feel the BIG IMPORTANCE in

DRIVING SCHOOLS • DRIVERS EDUCATION

ESPECIALLY because in Costa Rica one MUST learn how to drive DEFENSIVELY!

ESPECIALLY with all the Unmarked one-way streets, potholes, missing manhole covers, motorcyclists passing around you when you're in the left turning lane WITH your blinkers on+++!!

Anyone JUST 13+ years old can take the Written Test (WTH?? Does anyone understand what this is about??) - BUT - they can NOT get their Drivers Permit till they're 17 years old and they can not get their Drivers License till they're at least 18 years old!!!!

HOW LONG IS A LEARNER'S PERMIT GOOD FOR?

MY understanding is they're good for just 3-6 months (I'm re-verifying this soon)

HOW LONG IS A DRIVER'S LICENSE GOOD FOR?

The one I got is good for 3 years which I didn't realize it until AFTER the new law (below) took effect. Since my new license in Florida was good for 10 years, I never dreamed my license here would be good for just 3 years so I missed renewing it before the new law went into effect - GRRRRR!!

BUT -

there's a NEW LAW states that the ONLY people that can get a Drivers License are those with ACTIVE VALID Residency or Nationals.

Have your Residency "Pending" - proof/papers and all?

SORRY - but as of now, you can NOT get a Costa Rican Drivers License! (though SOME people have been known to get•renew them at some of the smaller•regional offices)

And the worse part of it is the law states that

you MUST have a Costa Rican Drivers License if you're in the country more than 90 days!!!

Yet if you're in "Residency Pending" status, according to Immigrations, you don't "NEED" to leave Costa Rica every 90 days.

BUT - the way the new law is, if you're in Costa Rica for over 90 days and you get stopped for a ticket by the Transito Policia - or just a random check - the FINE is 280,000 colones/about $565 U.S. dollars) and six (6) points on a yet UNreceived license - for EACH occurrence!!!

NOTE TO AMERICAN'SMost states now REQUIRE YOU toLIVE IN THAT STATE for 1-6 CONSEQUTIVE MONTHSbefore allowing you to renew or get a new driver license (I learned that the hard way [fyi - Florida is 6 months!!])

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

DRIVERS TRAINING • DRIVERS EDUCATION

in ENGLISH

in COSTA RICA

LANGAGES:

Classes are taught in ENGLISH* and/y Español

CLASS LOCATIONS:

Classes are held either in person in Grecia (office), Escazu or Santa Ana -

OR

Via Conference/Video call on Skype.com (you MUST have Skype Version 5.10 or more recent). Do you have a group of friends that would like to take one of these
class? You can get•create your own group together and even host it at your house. Inquire for prices.They can also come to you for more customized training - inquire for prices)

CLASSES:

Group Classes are the cheaper alternative (4 people minimum [so it may take a few week to get together]) plus they tend to take longer since you're waiting to answer everyone else's questions) - OR - you can create CUSTOMIZE one-on-one classes JUST for you!!!

WRITTEN DRIVERS TEST EXAM PREP

Classes here are taught in English and/or Spanish but note that the Written Test Exam with COSEVI.com (the equivalent to our U.S. "DMV" [Department of
Motor Vehicles]) are in SPANISH•Español. When you go to COSEVI
to take your written test, you'll get one of 7 different tests each
with 40 questions. This course will focus on studying/memorizing each
of these tests - so if you have a good memory (SOOO NOT me!!) yet don't
know a lot of Spanish, you could do pretty well as they study each test
on the computer (as you would at COSEVI - so at least a basic
understanding on how to use a computer will be VERY helpful!!).PRICE: In the Classroom (3 hours a day for 3 days) - $50. Online (Skype) - $20

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

is for people that already have a drivers license
(customized for your needs).

WHO IS THIS FOR? It's really for the person that has
been driving for ages BUT, the thought of driving in Costa Rica scares
the hell out of you! This class is customized for YOUR Needs!!

PRICE:

You go to in Grecia - 80,000-c. It's more $$ if in other areas.
Got a group of buds would like to take one of these classes?? Private Customized Classes

Advanced DRIVING IMPROVEMENTThis class is geared towards a specific thing you
need help with - like how to drive in the city, defensive driving, parking lots.Never driven (I'm surprised how MANY people this is their story) or it's been awhile? They can teach you DRIVER EDUCATION • DRIVING SCHOOL (with driving done in parking lots)!

OTHER OPTIONAL SERVICES:

I DON'T SPEAK MUCH SPANISH SO I'M NERVOUS ABOUT DOING THIS MYSELF!

You can also HIRE them to take you to COSEVI to do the Tests as well as help walk you through/translate for the Drivers License process.

They also have

EXECUTIVE DRIVERS and BODY GUARDS.

WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE FROM OTHER DRIVING SCHOOLS?:

They also have locations in the United States

The cars they use for Drivers Training classes haveDouble-brakes and Double Mirrors (they're one of the few companies that has this double brake system).

They can come to you/pick you up wherever.

TheirGUARANTEE: If you fail the test you can retake the class one more time.

The play features two 'step' sisters; when the play opens we find them confronted by life changing opportunities/challenges. One sister, the younger has the opportunity to realise a deeply held dream to become a writer by being offered a half scholarship to study with a famous writer and teacher.

The elder sister finds a lump in her breast. The two women travel their paths together even though they live on opposite sides of the continent. In the process they realise and heal old wounds and come to new understandings. The dialogue is witty and fast paced, and the action, which spans three years, never drags. We see the women also deal with the incidental characters, doctors and clients, teachers and fellow students, who affect their lives and their decisions.

The pony in the title refers to the fable of two children who always look for the bright side of any situation. In a roomful of manure they can be found looking for the pony!

Looking for the Pony plot synopsis 2

Looking for the Pony by Andrea Lepcio was first presented in a "Rolling World Premiere" Off-Broadway at Vital Theatre Company in New York City in 2009. Since then it has been performed across the United States always receiving excellent reviews. Described by reviewer Martin Denton as a “wise, gorgeous and moving play”, it tells the story of two smart loving women and the (sometimes metaphorical) places they go during three impossible years in which one of them battles cancer, while the other shifts from a well-paying career in finance to her true vocation as a writer. It is a tale of two life journeys, characterized by hope and fear and pain and passion. (Martin Denton review 2009).

This production, directed by Annette Hallett, will showcase the talents of two young women, Silvia Schneegans and Bethany Skipper as Eloise and Bethany. Everyone else in Looking for the Pony— doctors, nurses, cancer patients, rabbis, etc.—will be portrayed by a small team of dedicated actors who will change costume and personality throughout the play with remarkable agility.

Come to this play prepared to laugh and to maybe cry a little; either way, do not forget your tissues!

DONATION
6,000-cDISCOUNTS:
Members who Reserve Online (-500-c off)
Students (2,500-c entrance)
Groups bookings of 10 or more (-15% discount)

The Tico Times - TicoTimes.net - printed it's last PRINT
publication Sept. 28, 2012 - but they will continue their ONLINE
publication (I've been subscribing to it for awhile - I KNOW it's making
Mother Nature happier!!) - BUT - they NEED your help to keep even that going!!!

They NEED to raise $10,000 within the next 32 days so can you help??? Even just $5 - whatEVER you can gift to keep this CR Icon going that has been serving the English-speaking community of Costa Rica since 1956!!!

COMMENT: Since there is a LONG history of such signs being stolen to cash in for scrap metal - might it not have been more efficient to simply paint the street names on the corner of all the buildings??? Has anyone started "pools" on how long before they start disappearing??

After three hours of touring San José lost, Atlanta, Georgia,
southern belle Suzie Mizell returned to her hotel frazzled.
Discontented she threw her hands in the air and exclaimed she would
never drive in the city again.

She also said that if she lived here she would start a campaign to
plaster the canton with street signs.

Thursday the desire of Ms. Mizell and many other visitors distressed by
the uncertainty of where they were going was fulfilled with the
placement of the capital city's newest road marking, a project that the
municipality says has been in the works for 10 years.

Located at the intersection of Avenida Central and Calle Central,
officials from the Municipalidad de San José, Banco Nacional and
Banco de Costa Rica unveiled the directional pole by describing it as
“the starting point.” Coincidentally, the day was also Dia Nacional del
Turismo.

In total there will be 22,000 plates put up in the capital over seven
months. This breaks down to 4,066 conventional poles with two
plates for the intersecting streets, 2,712 decorative poles with two
plates, and 9,036 plates for buildings and walls.

Each will include the name of the street and district. Overall
the project amounts to more than 526 million colons, more than $1
million. Costa Rica's two main banks, Banco de Costa Rica and
Banco National, will sponsor the effort.

This work of nomenclature, will definitely have a very positive impact
on the quality of life of the people who inhabit or visit the capital,
but also in the competitiveness and the economic progress of the same,
said San José Mayor Johnny Araya Monge.

Most tourists say they have been victims of confusion by the old
direction system that includes a series of cardinal directions after
100 meters or a block followed by the words “directo” and ending with
the popular "you can't miss it." Only later they learn that
streets in the city are not straight and whatever they were looking for
can, in fact, be missed.

This concept was illustrated at the ceremony by actresses Chabela and
Chayo from the creative group Gentedemente. Chabela pretended to
be a lost Gringo who didn't speak a lot of Spanish stuck at an
intersection with her map looking for a restaurant.

With broken Spanish Chabela asked Chayo for directions. Chayo
answered with big gestures and guidance that took the person over the
infamous sinkhole and to a park that didn't exist. The two
women then redid the skit using the new system.

In the new system every street including historical streets will have a
number, said Araya. For example, Avenida Central and Calle
Central will be referred to by their correct names of Avenida 0 and
Calle 0.

Officials say that the benefit will not just be for tourists but

A.M. Costa Rica/Kayla Pearson

A proud Johnny Araya
participates in the ceremony

for residents, also. The city will be more functional for
businesses such as banks and postal services.

"With the placement of the nomenclature, San José is given one
step closer to urban development that will allow the proper management
of a growing city, that will affect the country's competitiveness,"
said Mario Rivera Turcios, general manager at Banco de Costa Rica.
"Once more Banco de Costa Rica is present in projects that drive the
development and the improvement of the quality of life of citizens."

The general manager of the Banco Nacional, Fernando Naranjo, shared his
sentiment and commented on the necessity of the project for
modernization and economic growth.

"The national bank, which is part of the national history, has
witnessed how our cities have been modernized, and in the case of San
José, urgently needed to push this initiative, which among its
many benefits, will serve to guide the tourists, who have long claimed
the lack of appropriate addresses," Naranjo said.

As for Ms. Mizell, she greeted the news with a sigh of relief.

“I'm very excited about this,” she said. “But I still will never drive
here again.”

Costa Rica has the highest rate of robberies by far in the entire
Western Hemisphere, according to a report released by the Organization
of American States.

Although the total number of robberies was lower than in countries like
Brazil and the United States, in 2010 there were 943 robberies per
100,000 people in Costa Rica.

However, with regards to murder, the report also showed Costa Rica to
be the 10th safest country out of the 37 in the hemisphere that same
year.

The results are based on data from 2010, when Costa Rica had a murder
rate of 11.4 per 100,000 people. More recent data from the Poder
Judicial's Sección de Estadística shows that the rate
went down in 2011 to 10.3. That's 527 murders in 2010 and 474 in 2011.
Read more HERE!

The "Report of Citizen Security in the Americas" is released annually.
This year's 164-page report relied largely on data collected by police
and crime investigation organizations in all countries throughout the
hemisphere.

According to the report, more than 43,000 robberies took place here in
2010. That translates to 943 victims per 100,000 people. That rate is
distantly followed by Mexico's rate of 670.

However, the report has some inconsistencies. Between the years of 2006
and 2007, the number of robberies nearly doubled from 23,000 to 41,000
with no indication of how such a large increase might have occurred. In
addition, the report did not include data for the past two years from
Argentina, which has historically had the highest robbery rate in the
hemisphere.

The report says that nearly 358,000 robberies occurred in the United
States, which translates to a rate of 123 per 100,000.

Costa Rica was the safest country in Central America in terms of
homicides. It's murder rate was 11.4 in 2010 and 10.3 in 2011.
Nicaragua was a close second with a rate of 13.5 in 2010 and 12.6 in
2011.

However, the number of violent deaths has doubled over the past decade
in Central America and the Caribbean.

Honduras and El Salvador were by far the most dangerous countries in
the hemisphere, and their murder rates have skyrocketed over the past
decade. The rate in Honduras went from 81.9 per 100,000 in 2010 to 91.6
in 2011. In El Salvador the increase was from 64.7 per 100,000 in 2010
to 69.2 in 2011.

In terms of numbers, Brazil led with nearly 41,000 homicides in 2010.
That's a rate of 21.0. Mexico with around 21,000 and Colombia with
about 17,000 distantly followed.

Ministerio de Gobernación,
Policía y Seguridad Pública

This person is not in the
statistics yet. He was detained
Tuesday in Upala shortly after armed men stuck up a
vegetable store and took, among other things, bananas and
cash.

The aggregate number of murders committed in Brazil and Colombia in
2010 nearly equaled those committed in North America, Central America
and the Caribbean combined. Those numbers were 58,000 for Brazil and
59,000 for Colombia.

Just over 14,000 people suffered violent deaths in the United States in
2010 at a rate of 4.6 per 100,000 people. Both numbers are decade lows.
The rate was also the third lowest in the hemisphere, following Canada
and Chile.

In countries that collected this data, the majority of murders were
committed with guns and most of the victims were males.

In 2009, Costa Rica had a suicide rate of 6.1, a rape rate of 36.8, a
theft rate of 104, a motor theft rate of 134 and an assault rate of 162
all per 100,000 people.

As of 2006, there were 148,000 registered firearms in Costa Rica at a
rate 3,367 guns per 100,000 people, according to the Organization of
American States.

Crimes other than murder are underreported in Costa Rica and many other
countries because victims do not expect results from the police.

The fair aims to create opportunities for dialogue among beekeepers and consumers of high quality bee products, as well as raising awareness of the importance of bees and honey benefits to human health.

You will be able to taste and buy honey and other bee products from man different Costa Rican beekeepers. There will be live music, a bee costume competition, and a raffle for various honey bee products.

Mike and his wife will be pouring samples and selling bottle of our Mead, honey wine that we have made from honey from for their own hives. It is truly delicious!!

LA RUTA DE LOS CONQUISTADORES is Costa Rica’s premier mountain bike
race and one of the most difficult athletic events on the planet.

The world’s original multi-day fat-tire stage race, La Ruta is the
“Grandfather” that created and inspired this now-worldwide genre — and
still the most loved, feared, and respected. Every year, hundreds of the
very best mountain bikers and endurance racers from around the world
come to Central America to test themselves in this unique odyssey of
distance, geography, climate and culture. La Ruta, the only bike race
that traverses the American land mass from coast to coast — from Pacific
to Atlantic —is no easy day at the beach. Between its sea-level start
and finish, the 161-mile route crosses 5 mountain ranges that force you
climb a cumulative 29,000 feet! The daunting terrain is so harsh that
half a century ago it took Spanish conquistadores led by Juan De
Cavallón took 20 years to cross the land of Costa Rica from the Pacific
to the Caribbean Sea; today, following almost the same trails they
blazed, modern-day explorers racing on mountain bikes will do it in 3
days.

But the legendary difficulty of La Ruta is just one reason why this
adventure will take your breath away. Its setting is one of the most
special places on earth. Costa Rica has been called “the most biodiverse
place on the planet” by National Geographic because it packs a full 5%
of the Earth’s species of birds, plants and animals onto just 0.01% of
the planet’s land mass. La Ruta riders get a chance to see and hear many
of them as they travel through nine of the country’s twelve different
microclimates. As the route snakes through tropical rain forest, 12,000
feet volcanoes, banana plantations and tiny farm towns, it alternatively
drenches you in rain and freezes you in high elevation. Over every
imaginable riding surface— singletrack and fireroad trails, gravel,
hard-packed dirt, pavement, thigh-deep mud, sand, volcano ash, and more —
the route will have you making endless granny-gear chugs, hike-a-bikes,
and white-knuckle descents through and over rain forests, sweltering
jungle, steaming volcanoes, breezy coastline, suspended bridges and deep
river gorges.

Be forewarned: La Ruta It is not a race for novice
mountain bikers. Even professional riders often roll their eyes in
disbelief when they recount what they have done. This race is a test of
everything you’ve got — your riding abilities, physical endurance,
mental strength and equipment durability. In this struggle of joyful
adversity, you may even learn something new about yourself. That’s why
many who experience the grueling terrain that bedeviled the original
Conquisadores nearly five centuries ago often describe it not merely as a
“race” — but as personal growth journey.

Important Notice: The views and opinions shared within this news article are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of The Costa Rica Starnews
network. If you have any feedback or questions pertaining to this
article, please use the contact form at the top of the website to get in
touch with our editors.

Setiembre 27 - Jueves de set al 8 de Octubre (September 27 TO October 8)
LOCACION • LOCATION: Calle principal frente a la Municipalidad Costado Norte del Parque central de Escazú • the MAIN STREET DIRECTLY IN FRONT of the Municipalidad - on the North side of the park in Centro Escazu.
BUSES: Losautobuses que vandel estede ruedasen esta calleahorarecogeráen frente dela Oficina de CorreosThe buses that run East-bound on this street will now pick up 1 block down/North in front of the Post Office
CIERRE TOTAL • CLOSED for: 24 horas•hours

PriceSmart
PriceSmart is where I've found some of the BEST PRICES for a larger Above Ground Pools
plus they have Kiddie Pools usually year around and pool toys!!!

WalMart
I think they have them pretty much year round.

EPA

WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO FIND THESE ITEMS?
Like with Camping Equipment - the time of the year I've noticed to get the best deals -
around the beginning of December
(JUST before kiddies get off for their "Summer" break and it gets HOT in
Costa Rica - till after around Samana Sante/Easter). Next time I get to those places, I'll get more details and price ranges.

HELP OTHERS!Do YOU know of other places to get KIDDIE POOLS or ABOVE GROUND POOLS?
Please e- me with as MANY DETAILS as you can find (name, directions, hours, website, Facebook Page, what all they have, price ranges+++) atLivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

30 companies in finance, technology, food and
supermarket industries, as well as recruiting agencies, will hold a job
fair over the next 2 weekends on the campuses of Universidad Latina.
Companies are seeking to hire some 2,000 people.

The fair will be held Sept. 28-29 at the university’s San José campus and Oct. 5-6 at the Heredia campus, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

In
addition to presenting résumés at individual company booths, attendees
can use a digital system to post them online. University employees also
will offer training lectures on topics such as résumé preparation and
preparing for a job interview.

ENGLISH:More than 30 technology companies, hotels, financial institutions and services will meet at the campus of San Pedro and Heredia.Virtual Fair joins the employment prospects for those who can not attend the campus.In Costa Rica, 47.6% of the population belongs to the country's workforce, but 10.4% of this group are unemployed. This according to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, INEC.In
contrast, a survey by Manpower shows that 23% of Costa Rican employers
increase your return from October diciembre.Visualizando this labor
situation with the aim of bringing companies with prospective employees,
the University organizes America job fair in San Pedro campus and another campus in Heredia.Seats world renowned hotels are the highlight in Heredia CampusThe
job fair to be held on the campus of American University in Heredia on
their menu include 800 vacancies in more than 15 hotels in the country."The
purpose of including hospitality at the fair is to provide the
opportunity to get better job opportunities in the hospitality industry
while strengthening the University's approach to the different companies
in the field of hotel and restaurants" says Sanchez.Among the participating hotels include the"With
these job fairs seek to maintain a cooperative relationship between the
university, the unemployed and the industry," says Ariel Sanchez,
Director of Campus Life at the University America.The
two job fairs organized by the American University will offer about
2,000 jobs and will bring together more than 30 companies.Financial
institutions, technology companies, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets
and recruiting agencies are part of the tender offer these fairs. Hewlett
Packard will be present, Resources, First Data, Deloitte, Search,
Convergis, Amba Research, Young 360, My Profile, Auxis, among others.Each of these companies will be recruiting employees for administrative and operating at different hierarchical levels."A
part of the stands of each company, attendees will have a digital
platform where companies will raise their jobs on the web and can
register to apply for the posts from internet. With this new develop a virtual job fair, in parallel, "says Sanchez.Last
year American University welcomed more than 3,000 people in job fairs
organized and brought together around 30 companies that offered more
than 1,500 administrative and operating in the area of ​​finance, sales,
accounting, engineering, information technology , reception, food and beverage, among others."Job
fairs have become an effective tool to achieve positive outcomes for
businesses and who complete many job vacancies and with very good
candidates or human resources," says SanchezThis
year for job fairs American University will offer talks, with the aim
of empowering people who walk in looking for work, so they can
accomplish their goal faster.The talks are free, open to the general public and do not need to make a registration in advance. Those interested in only some of the issues to be submitted to the time and date indicated below:"One
of the great advantages of this opportunity is the presence of new
hotel chains are in the process of opening in Costa Rica for the months
of November 2012-2013," highlights Sánchez.These
opportunities to find work are available to the general public and will
be held on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 September at the American
University campus in San Pedro and Friday 5 and Saturday 6 October at
the Heredia campus.Friday's job fairs are open to the public from 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm.

(their webmaster didn't program the url correctly so you MUST type in the www.)

Prices are BEST JUST BEFORE the Christmas holidays till around Samana Santa/Easter which is basically their "summer" when kids are off school for about 2 or so months)

(I'm looking at a newspaper insert from April '12 and they have specials featuring
Sleeping Bags for just $10
Coolers starting at $36
Folding Chairs for $8
King size Air Mattresses for $24+.
I bought some little 2 person Pup Tents ages ago for under $10!

Step 2Once you enter the property, there's a PHOTOGRAPHER immediately to the LEFT of the gate who will take the required photos for 2,000-c.

You will need to get at least 3 PHOTOGRAPHS one of yourself facing front and one of each side.See the note below on where
to get the pictures taken as if it were ME, I'd wait till I got THERE to
do it so I KNEW it was EXACTLY what they wanted!!).

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Step 3

The Fingerprint Office is to the LEFT, along a covered passage.There's a big sign saying "Huellas" (FingerPrints [funny - translate.google says FOOTprints!]). @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Step 4Hand your passport and other documents to the clerk, then wait in line with everyone else until your name is called.

(he wasn't sure if they had an appointment as his lawyer took care of everything and even brought them. Personally, if I was doing residency and going through a lawyer, I'd forgo the escort to save me $100-$200 or so and go myself since you now have DETAILED instructions!!)